CappuccinoandArtJournal

Mostly postal but art and other things of interest too.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Can You Really Have Too Much Fun?

Can you ever really have too much fun?I'm researching this very question.Lately I have been having such a good time around San Francisco I haven't had time to to upload my photos (1,500 of them) for the blog or work on any of the pending posts I've got going....There's a collage post and a visit to a friend's studio post and a post about two really charming postal books and one about some of the projects I've been working on...and....well...let's say I'm behind.

We have been having some nice weather here in San Francisco. Warmer than our usual freezing summer weather and I've been out and about taking some lovely long walks. Always watching for a nice mailbox or two.

And then this weekend was my personal favorite The Vintage Paper Fair.WARNING:Stop reading now if you feel faint at the sight of piles of wonderful vintage paper...

I love to be surrounded by so much vintage paper ephemera.There are postcards, posters, vintage stamps, tin types and snapshots, maps and pages torn from old books, First Day Covers and old envelopes.....lots of friendly vendors...

What makes it so great to me (besides being around all that vintage paper ephemera) is that whatever your budget is, you can find treasure.All those boxes of b&w snapshots in the photo are .25-cents each. And the postcards on the table are also .25-cents.There are some expensive items for real collectors but I always find lots of wonderful, affordable treasures to bring home.

Real Photo postcards -- three for a dollar -- the price is right and I think "Stamp Heads" -- don't you?(Yes, I'm still obsessed)

One friendly vendor has loads of face value vintage stamps -- quite a popular item.

A Steal!!I got a very large paper that is a mortgage from Great Britain and all personally hand-writeen in calligraphy!Can you believe this? The photo does not do it justice. It is a truly amazing piece,($5.00)

With three wax seals on it too.......swoon.....

Another hand written beauty -- Japanese, I believe, and an entire book of hand-written calligraphy by a student with corrections in red by the teacher.....

And, no, I don't work for the Vintage Paper Fair. You'd almost think so, wouldn't you? I just love it and never want to miss going when it is happening.I really don't think it would be a bad idea to plan a visit to SF around the same time the Paper Fair is happening, do you?Happily, I live here!Look here to see the VPF's schedule and other locations
and after all that, I got to have a terrific Thai lunch with two great pals...

As if Saturday's event wasn't enough, Sunday night was our July SF Correspondence co-op's meeting at the SF Center for the Book.Socializing, food, a little wine, an artistamp for our passports....what's not to like?

We had a demo of bee's wax collage.....very interesting..

A little food, of course and show-and-tell and sharing supplies and catching up...a terrific end to the weekend.

I kinda needed to go home and have a martini and calm down after all the excitement...(good excuse, anyway)

So, here's my stash. Now I get to play with it and make things. I am going to pull about the Japanese calligraphy book and use the papers in collages.Maybe hang the calligraphy mortgage on the wall since it is so beautiful.And I'll send out some of those postcards with vintage stamps.If you are feeling faint, don't say I didn't warn you.

I have loads more to show you - 1500 photos, after all -- so stay tuned to the blog to see.(Remember, there is a FaceBook page too with more photos).So, that was MY weekend, what did you do on yours?SEND GOOD MAIL & GET GOOD MAIL

33 comments:

swooning, no surprise. hungry to hear more about two really charming postal books. titles, at least, please!! thanks for the glorious glimpses. you quite clearly, as if i ever harbored ANY doubts, sure know how to live!!!! ~miss p

(1) I am so happy to have found your blog! (2) I want MORE blog entries to brighten my morning visits! (3) I think you have mentioned "stamp heads" in earlier entries, but wish you would give us a dedicated discussion of that topic. (4) As always your photos are great. thanks and thanks and thanks

Sharon - so happy you found the blog and are enjoying it. Stamp Heads are just made using people's bodies and glueing a STAMP on the head -- I have been making ATC's and postcards with them. If you put Stamp Heads in the blog's search box you should see some. Karen -- over at Mail Me Some Art - has also posted a lot of really cool ones too....thanks for commenting!

Oh. My. Goodness. What a wonderful event! Nothing like that here in Florida that I know of. That mortgage is so beautifully written and with wax seals to boot! The Japanese lesson book is also gorgeous. You scored big! I look forward to seeing more of your pictures.

Thanks, Michelle -- it really was a little bit of heaven on earth. Just being surrounded with all that old paper is thrilling (at least for me, it is). Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment.

I think it's great that, as well traveled as you are, you still appreciate all there is to do close to home. Your paper fair photos make me want to rush right out to our Allentown Paper Show, but I am trying really hard to USE my current stash without adding to it for awhile. And it's HARD!! Your photos are amazing. I especially love handwritten text, and also the photos with multiple people in them: groups of women friends and mothers with their children. I don't find those as often as single portrait shots. Thanks for sharing!!

Andrea -- there's no place like home -- especially if it is San Francisco! Thanks for the nice comment -- much appreciated. I try not to buy too much and to do use what i do buy....but sometimes I can't help myself....